Last Modified: Sunday, July 13, 2014 at 8:24 p.m.

Photo Galleries

Blake said Sgt. Kenny Hipps was “recovering and seems to be doing well” after being stabbed with a knife under his ballistic vest by Adrian King, 46. Hipps' partner then shot King, who died at the scene, Blake told WSPA News Channel 7.

“I think people now can see how dangerous and how uncertain police work can be, regardless of the makeup of the community,” Blake said Monday.

King was “a very gentle person” who was not prone to violence, according to his cousin, Stephen Goranson. King often worked for Goranson's business on Main Street, The Clothes Horse Outfitters, selling his vivid paintings of skulls on a commission basis and doing leatherwork.

“He was creating all sorts of interesting leatherwork and belts,” said Goranson, who described King as a talented and creative artist. “His latest thing was bullwhips. He was hand-weaving them, and he'd bring them in, and we'd buy them from him as needed.”

Charges of communicating threats and assault with a deadly weapon were filed against King on Sunday. Police responded to King's second-floor apartment around 4:30 p.m. that day, Blake said.

“It's very out-of-character,” Goranson said of his cousin. “He was a very gentle person. I don't believe he's ever been arrested for anything like that, or even been charged with anything like that.”

King has faced multiple charges in Henderson County since 1987, although many were dropped or dismissed. From 1987 through 1991, he was charged with misdemeanors including assault with a deadly weapon, harassing phone calls, DWI, simple possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

More charges were filed from 2005 through 2013, according to court records, including misdemeanor possession of marijuana, reckless driving, assault and battery, assault with a deadly weapon, cyberstalking, harassing phone calls and communicating threats.

Nearly all of the assault, harassing phone calls, cyberstalking and communicating threats charges were dropped or dismissed. But King pleaded guilty to other charges, including simple affray in February 2008, reckless driving in 2006, possession of drug paraphernalia in 2005, DWI in 1990, and possession of drug paraphernalia and simple possession in 1987. All were misdemeanors.

Cleaning up

Maintenance workers at King's apartment building, located over the Like New 2 U Consignment Shop at 146 Third Ave. West, spent Monday morning cleaning up the mess left behind by the altercation.

They sealed up the doorway of King's Apt. 5 with plywood, replacing a shattered wooden door, and ripped up a swatch of blood-stained carpet in the outside hallway. Police kicked down King's door “because he wouldn't open it,” said Joe Cunningham, the head of building maintenance.

A brief tour of King's apartment with the landlord, who did not want his name disclosed, showed its former resident was an avid collector of rock music and Harley-Davidson motorcycle memorabilia, and an artist with a penchant for skulls, coffins and other macabre images.

“Look at what he collected,” said the landlord, sweeping his hand over a collection of miniature porcelain skulls. “Look at his coffee table — it's a coffin. Very morbid. Of course, he has a hell of an album collection. When he first moved in, he invited me up to see (it). And I thought, 'Oh, my God!'”

Hundreds of vinyl records lined an interior room of King's apartment, including many by KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, Guns N' Roses, Led Zeppelin and other hard rock acts. Osbourne and members of KISS stared down from multiple posters and pieces of memorabilia on its walls.

“He's a KISS freak,” said the landlord. “He's got KISS everywhere.”

King, who wore his long hair in a ponytail and loved body art, was previously married and lived with his wife and son in the late 1990s around Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Goranson said. During that time, King worked in a bar that hosted “a lot of the 80s hair bands,” including Quiet Riot and Enuff Z'nuff.

“He's a very talented tattoo artist and he did tattoos on a lot of rock stars,” said Goranson.

Since moving back to Hendersonville after his divorce, King worked odd jobs for The Clothes Horse and “flipped” motorcycles after fixing them up, Goranson said, always trying to better his own ride. But King was on disability for a heart condition, his cousin said.

“He did get around; he did a lot of walking, but as far as physical labor, no,” he said.

Shop keepers say King was a regular fixture downtown as he walked his small dog, Sweetpea, around Hendersonville. King's blue Mustang, with its KISS “Love Gun” seat covers, was often parked on the Third Avenue curb.

“He reminded me of a biker, but he was nice and respectful,” said one clerk, who didn't want her name used.

<p>The Hendersonville police sergeant stabbed Sunday by an assault suspect is still hospitalized but “improving,” Police Chief Herbert Blake said Monday.</p><p>Blake said Sgt. Kenny Hipps was “recovering and seems to be doing well” after being stabbed with a knife under his ballistic vest by Adrian King, 46. Hipps' partner then shot King, who died at the scene, Blake told WSPA News Channel 7. </p><p>“I think people now can see how dangerous and how uncertain police work can be, regardless of the makeup of the community,” Blake said Monday.</p><p>King was “a very gentle person” who was not prone to violence, according to his cousin, Stephen Goranson. King often worked for Goranson's business on Main Street, The Clothes Horse Outfitters, selling his vivid paintings of skulls on a commission basis and doing leatherwork.</p><p>“He was creating all sorts of interesting leatherwork and belts,” said Goranson, who described King as a talented and creative artist. “His latest thing was bullwhips. He was hand-weaving them, and he'd bring them in, and we'd buy them from him as needed.”</p><p>Charges of communicating threats and assault with a deadly weapon were filed against King on Sunday. Police responded to King's second-floor apartment around 4:30 p.m. that day, Blake said.</p><p>“It's very out-of-character,” Goranson said of his cousin. “He was a very gentle person. I don't believe he's ever been arrested for anything like that, or even been charged with anything like that.”</p><p>King has faced multiple charges in Henderson County since 1987, although many were dropped or dismissed. From 1987 through 1991, he was charged with misdemeanors including assault with a deadly weapon, harassing phone calls, DWI, simple possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.</p><p>More charges were filed from 2005 through 2013, according to court records, including misdemeanor possession of marijuana, reckless driving, assault and battery, assault with a deadly weapon, cyberstalking, harassing phone calls and communicating threats.</p><p>Nearly all of the assault, harassing phone calls, cyberstalking and communicating threats charges were dropped or dismissed. But King pleaded guilty to other charges, including simple affray in February 2008, reckless driving in 2006, possession of drug paraphernalia in 2005, DWI in 1990, and possession of drug paraphernalia and simple possession in 1987. All were misdemeanors.</p><p><b>Cleaning up</b></p><p>Maintenance workers at King's apartment building, located over the Like New 2 U Consignment Shop at 146 Third Ave. West, spent Monday morning cleaning up the mess left behind by the altercation.</p><p>They sealed up the doorway of King's Apt. 5 with plywood, replacing a shattered wooden door, and ripped up a swatch of blood-stained carpet in the outside hallway. Police kicked down King's door “because he wouldn't open it,” said Joe Cunningham, the head of building maintenance.</p><p>A brief tour of King's apartment with the landlord, who did not want his name disclosed, showed its former resident was an avid collector of rock music and Harley-Davidson motorcycle memorabilia, and an artist with a penchant for skulls, coffins and other macabre images.</p><p>“Look at what he collected,” said the landlord, sweeping his hand over a collection of miniature porcelain skulls. “Look at his coffee table — it's a coffin. Very morbid. Of course, he has a hell of an album collection. When he first moved in, he invited me up to see (it). And I thought, 'Oh, my God!'”</p><p>Hundreds of vinyl records lined an interior room of King's apartment, including many by KISS, Ozzy Osbourne, Guns N' Roses, Led Zeppelin and other hard rock acts. Osbourne and members of KISS stared down from multiple posters and pieces of memorabilia on its walls.</p><p>“He's a KISS freak,” said the landlord. “He's got KISS everywhere.”</p><p>King, who wore his long hair in a ponytail and loved body art, was previously married and lived with his wife and son in the late 1990s around Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Goranson said. During that time, King worked in a bar that hosted “a lot of the 80s hair bands,” including Quiet Riot and Enuff Z'nuff.</p><p>“He's a very talented tattoo artist and he did tattoos on a lot of rock stars,” said Goranson.</p><p>Since moving back to Hendersonville after his divorce, King worked odd jobs for The Clothes Horse and “flipped” motorcycles after fixing them up, Goranson said, always trying to better his own ride. But King was on disability for a heart condition, his cousin said.</p><p>“He did get around; he did a lot of walking, but as far as physical labor, no,” he said.</p><p>Shop keepers say King was a regular fixture downtown as he walked his small dog, Sweetpea, around Hendersonville. King's blue Mustang, with its KISS “Love Gun” seat covers, was often parked on the Third Avenue curb.</p><p>“He reminded me of a biker, but he was nice and respectful,” said one clerk, who didn't want her name used.</p><p>___</p><p>Online Editor Caitlin Byrd contributed to this report.</p><p>Reach Axtell at than.axtell@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7860.</p>